That's the title of a movie I saw last night. It's also the name of a web site. More importantly, it's shorthand for a movement to change our educational system. The basic assumption made is that our current system of educating high school students has two primary flaws: it is bad for students' health and it really doesn't provide the thinking skills needed in life.
The health problem stems from lack of sleep and piles of stress. Advocates argue that too much homework is given so that kids have to stay up late to complete the assignments. And this need to put off sleep comes at a time in life when growing kids really need their sleep. Stress comes about because of the undue emphasis parents place on the need for their kids to be above average in what has become a very competitive school world.
Personally, I don't believe that the stress issue is a function of the education system. It is a function of our society. Garrison Keilor's description of Lake Woebegone where all the kids are above average applies to the actions of many parents which result in stress for their kids. Why else would they spend thousands of dollars on prepping their child to get into the 'right' kindergarten? Why would they hire coaches to train their 10-year-old 'athletes'? Most of us are simply average. Why wouldn't our kids be average?
It is evident that testing is the sine qua non of today's education system. Passing a test is not equivalent to learning a subject. Yet, we seem to think so. So, high schools aim to provide the kids with the tools to pass the SAT, rather than how to think. How many college freshmen are really not adequately prepared in the basics by their high school education? In the film, one student from UCal claimed that half of her fellow classmates were taking what should have been high school courses.
I find it interesting that this movement began when the U.S. is no longer the world leader it was in the 20th century. Is there a relationship between our education system and our place in the world?
This movement seems to be getting some traction. It made Katie Couric's show recently. The film is being shown at schools across the country. The Secretary of Education is proposing some big changes in our education system, including less of an emphasis on testing. Who knows? Change might happen.
The health problem stems from lack of sleep and piles of stress. Advocates argue that too much homework is given so that kids have to stay up late to complete the assignments. And this need to put off sleep comes at a time in life when growing kids really need their sleep. Stress comes about because of the undue emphasis parents place on the need for their kids to be above average in what has become a very competitive school world.
Personally, I don't believe that the stress issue is a function of the education system. It is a function of our society. Garrison Keilor's description of Lake Woebegone where all the kids are above average applies to the actions of many parents which result in stress for their kids. Why else would they spend thousands of dollars on prepping their child to get into the 'right' kindergarten? Why would they hire coaches to train their 10-year-old 'athletes'? Most of us are simply average. Why wouldn't our kids be average?
It is evident that testing is the sine qua non of today's education system. Passing a test is not equivalent to learning a subject. Yet, we seem to think so. So, high schools aim to provide the kids with the tools to pass the SAT, rather than how to think. How many college freshmen are really not adequately prepared in the basics by their high school education? In the film, one student from UCal claimed that half of her fellow classmates were taking what should have been high school courses.
I find it interesting that this movement began when the U.S. is no longer the world leader it was in the 20th century. Is there a relationship between our education system and our place in the world?
This movement seems to be getting some traction. It made Katie Couric's show recently. The film is being shown at schools across the country. The Secretary of Education is proposing some big changes in our education system, including less of an emphasis on testing. Who knows? Change might happen.
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